340.1115A/1509: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Matthews) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 30—5 p.m.]
889. From Paris. Department’s 1190.62 The Embassy now knows definitely of 168 Americans including wives and children (a few wives are not American citizens) in the Paris area who desire to depart for the United States but do not possess the necessary funds or have any hope of obtaining funds except through governmental or charitable aid. It is believed that there are a further 50 persons in the Paris area claiming American citizenship, either through marriage or American parentage, whose cases are deserving of serious consideration in connection with any steps that may be taken to repatriate needy Americans from France. Investigation in the north and Bordeaux consular district will probably reveal a further 50 such cases.
With the worsening of the international situation Americans in occupied France are becoming increasingly concerned about the problem of their immediate future. There are daily departures for the United States of Americans with funds. Those who do not possess the necessary funds to defray the cost of travel to the United States and who know of no means by which such funds can be obtained for them in the absence of governmental or charitable aid, are the more disturbed because of the predicament in which they find themselves. Their situation is really a discouraging one. They are by and large without any means of livelihood because of the war or for reasons of longer standing, [Page 167] and the possibility that the situation will improve for them in the foreseeable future is non-existent. Looking after them is not a matter of temporary assistance. Urgent repatriation is the only solution and by all odds the best step to consider at this time. We will have to come to it in the end if serious embarrassment to the Government and American charitable enterprises is to be avoided. Conditions in France for a long time to come will preclude the absorption of foreign unemployed. Local charitable assistance for these people in the absence of American relief activity here will not be forthcoming.
Allen63 and Barnes64 therefore urge in the strongest manner possible that the Department and the Red Cross confer once again on this subject with a view to providing funds for the immediate repatriation of between 250 and 300 persons from occupied France. Over 90 of these people are ex-service men and their families.